Best Value and Biodiversity in Scotland: A HANDBOOK OF GOOD PRACTICE FOR PUBLIC BODIES
CHAPTER 7 Potential Biodiversity Targets for Service Delivery
This chapter suggests a number of biodiversity targets that local authorities may wish to consider incorporating into their service delivery programmes. Local authorities are encouraged to create targets appropriate to their area, or to achieve those already stated in the Local Biodiversity Action Plan (LBAP) and in the Implementation Plans of the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy (SBS).
Community Resourcing: Education, Children, and Young People
Public statement for the percentage of the total population in the local authority area to be targeted with the opportunity of attending (or who actually attended) biodiversity events each year.
Response (e.g. to a questionnaire asking if the public know what biodiversity is) over time showing an increased understanding and appreciation of nature and enjoyment of biodiversity events.
100% of all school children (specify age group) receiving biodiversity information, literature, and/or packs, and/or attending specialist events.
Recruitment of two "large" businesses as partners or sponsors in the LBAP within 1 year.
Public statement for the percentage of school and nursery children each year to have the opportunity to learn about biodiversity through first-hand experience, either through school grounds development, through structured activity in the local area, or on local nature reserves or parks.
Environment and Regeneration
Data collection and management:
local authority-wide coverage for LBAP audit (e.g. location and extent of LBAP priority habitats and species, location of protected species);
identify local authority-wide Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINCs) (e.g. quality and location);
provide contribution to Local Record Centre in line with National Biodiversity Network partnership arrangements;
sufficient information to identify and map (75%) of LBAP priority habitats and species by e.g. end 2005;
record net positive change (no negative change) in the quality and/or quantity of natural and semi-natural habitat;
published list of national and local priority species occurring in the local authority area and objectives and targets for these;
record progress towards species and habitat targets in local authority area.
Local co-ordination and partnership:
public statement of the number of Habitat Action Plans (HAPs) that the local authority agrees to help implement locally;
public statement of the number of Species Action Plans (SAPs) that the local authority agrees to help implement locally;
provide tangible support for the LBAP Partnership, with a commitment to provide resources for at least the first five years of the initiative.
Management of local authority land:
all Sites of Special Scientific interest (SSSI) land owned by the local authority to be managed in accordance with SNH requirements;
100% of local authority land surveyed to identify presence or opportunities for priority habitats and species by end 2005;
public statement for the percentage of local authority land to be managed for priority habitats;
to have 1ha of Local Nature Reserve (LNR) per 1000 head of population;
public statement for the percentage of local authority land to be managed for priority species;
make publicly available a map showing all land managed for LBAP targets.
Assisting other Land Managers and Owners:
local authority to support all LNR management;
identify, through the LBAP audit, the total potential land area that could be managed in support of LBAP habitats, and to report on the area or percentage actually managed by 2005;
identify, through the LBAP audit, the total potential land area that could be managed in support of LBAP species, and to report on the area or percentage actually managed by 2005;
report LBAP Officer time spent offering advice on biodiversity to private land owners;
establish grant aid for biodiversity available from the local authority for private landowners.
Planning Policy and Development Control:
have a full suite of good practice guidance and policies for biodiversity and nature conservation;
survey land prior to any excavation work, to ensure remedial work reflects the original species composition;
road verge and hedge cutting to be at designated biodiversity-friendly times, except where overruled by safety considerations;
0% of SINCs or LBAP habitat to be lost in the local authority area to development each year;
full compensation and mitigation for any significant losses of SINCs or LBAP habitat in the local authority area to development each year;
Local Plan and Development Briefs should identify total area of land important to LBAP habitats and species, where development should make positive contribution to net gain targets;
appropriate local target of total area of land managed for and contributing to (as a result of development) LBAP habitats and species targets to be stated in LBAP Supplementary Planning Guidance;
no removal of priority habitats or species each year (without clear justification that removal outweighed benefits of retention).
Governance and Democracy; Financial Services
Written public statement in the Corporate Plan (or equivalent) expressing the importance attached to biodiversity conservation as a key component of sustainable development.
All Community Plans should incorporate an LBAP as an integral component.
Biodiversity is incorporated into the Council's Environmental Management Systems (EMS).
Funding made available, for example for:
site management of Local Nature Reserves (LNRs) or SINCs;
employment of an LBAP Officer and Ecologist;
monitoring and reporting on corporate BAPs;
grant aid towards small BAP projects;
establishment and running of Local Record Centres.
Statutory Responsibility and Professional Competence
Ensure documented action exists exercising duties or powers under any or all of the following:
National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949;
Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981;
Conservation (Natural Habitats etc.) Regulations 1994;
Flooding Prevention (Scotland) Act 1961;
Environmental Impact Assessment (Scotland) Regulations 1999; and/or
Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004.
Employ at least one LBAP Officer and Ecologist per local authority.
Ensure full compliance with all relevant statutory duties and constraints.
This list is a means for local authorities to consider and determine whether using a different approach, setting different targets, or using a different delivery mechanism could achieve biodiversity targets more effectively, efficiently, or economically.
